Silo Cleaning Safety
Spectrum Industrial Technicians Raymond Richardson (left) and Curtis Barbour (right).
Most people don’t realize the process of cleaning a silo can be incredibly difficult and extremely dangerous. There are many safety precautions that should be taken before the job even begins. It is important that workers understand the silo they will be working in, such as the size and contents of the silo and necessary safety equipment. Since silos are not designed with human entry as top priority, it is imperative that all safety precautions are taken before, during, and after the job.
Conducting a Job Safety Analysis (JSA) is essential when working in or around a silo. A JSA will identify hazards that employees could potentially face during the scope of work and is used to determine the proper PPE needed, as well as any other special safety precautions for the job. Hazard identification plays a main role in protecting employees. If hazards can be identified, they can be mitigated or reduced of their exposure to workers. Completing a JSA will also help in determining the proper PPE needed for each employee’s scope of work with the silo. Some standard PPE while working in or around a silo might include safety glasses, hard hats, safety boots, ear plugs, respirator or dust mask, gloves, and in some cases, a fall harness. Weather may also play a factor in determining potential hazards on a job such as extreme heat or cold.
Silos can also contain deadly gases such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon dioxide (CO2), and hydrogen sulfide (H2S). NO2 is heavier than air and may be seen as a reddish to yellowish - brown haze. Since it is heavier than air, it can be found at the base of a recently filled silo. It has a bleach-like smell and you will experience a burning sensation in your nose, throat, and chest. Instant death may result from inhaling this gas. On the other hand, CO2 fills the headspace of the silo, replacing the air. Exposure to both these gases happens most often in the first three weeks after the silo is filled. Hydrogen sulfide (also known as H2S, sewer gas, swamp gas, stink damp, and sour damp) is a colorless gas known for its pungent "rotten egg" odor at low concentrations. It is extremely flammable and highly toxic. Its presence makes work in confined spaces potentially very dangerous.
Spectrum Environmental Services approaches its silo cleaning projects in this way by evaluating the specific job site information and taking the appropriate actions to provide a safe work environment for our employees and presenting to our clients a successful project, completed in a safe manner. Spectrum has the knowledge, equipment, and resources to help with any silo cleaning job. How can the Spectrum Team help you today?